Jackets Split With Hardin-Simmons

HPU Sports Information

ABILENE, Texas – The Howard Payne University baseball team split a double header, 3-8 and 4-3, with Hardin-Simmons University Saturday afternoon at Hunter Field.

Hardin-Simmons exploded for eight runs in the first two innings of the first game, but from then on HSU's bats were silenced by Howard Payne's pitching.

HSU had an RBI ground out and also scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0 in the first. HSU scored six runs on seven hits in the second.

Howard Payne turned a double play to get out of the inning behind reliever Kevin Young and Young was perfect the rest of the way.

HSU starter, Blake Sieck, did not allow a run until the top of the seventh. He was an out away from a complete-game shutout, before Howard Payne scored three times.

HPU's Gilbert Barrera allowed seven runs in an inning and one-third took the loss to fall to 2-4. Sam Dollahite led with two for Howard Payne.

In the second game, Howard Payne starter Billy Ray Cruz (4-4) kept Hardin-Simmons off balance throughout the game. Cruz went eight innings allowing just three runs on six hits to earn the win. Robert Anders worked the ninth for his first save.

HPU scored a run in the first inning on an RBI double by Jordan Hammontree. Carlton Brown and Taylor Zambreski had RBI singles in the fourth to make it 3-0. HSU cut it to 3-1 with a run in the fifth with a double to lead off the inning and later scored on a sacrifice fly.

In the seventh, Brown reached on a single and Dustin Cole reached first on a throwing error on a bunt attempt. Will Garlick then bunted on the first pitch and the ball crawled right along the line and stayed fair to load the bases. Ryan Klose strikeout, but a wild pitch allowed a run to score.

HSU scored twice in the eighth on a pinch-hit RBI double and later on a RBI single. HSU mounted a rally in the ninth, but Anders kept the Hardin-Simmons off the board.

Brown and Hammontree had two hits each for Howard Payne in game two.

Howard Payne is now 9-15 overall and 5-7 in ASC West play. HSU is 22-7 on the year and 9-3 in conference.

The Yellow Jackets will have a non-conference double header at Don Shepard Park with Southwestern Assemblies of God University on Tuesday at 1:00 pm.
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